Buddies

I'm a relatively new woodworker. Story's pretty typical: Always wanted to learn, never found the time. Other priorities just got in the way.

But sometimes, fate has a funny way of telling you what to do.

My boss at the time was an avid woodworker. You know the type ... probably could have done it as a vocation, not just as a hyper-hobby. He built all the furniture for his retirement home, beautiful cherry stuff. I used to pepper him with questions, even though I'm more a Stickley Arts and Craft kind of guy, while he's inspired by Thomas Moser.

Anyway, one day he tells me he bought a new jointer, and he asked if I wanted his old one. He wasn't kidding either: It certainly was old, but it was in great shape. I said yes in a heartbeat.

My sons and I went to his shop to pick it up, and he tossed in a bonus... an old mortiser that he had sitting around. Well, the first weekend I jointed and mortised all kinds of scraps. Bucketfuls. Beautifully square, with mortise holes running the length.

I’ve been working on a big Stickley designed double bookcase for way too long, but I’m closing in on it now. Finally put the tongue-and-groove back boards on, all the shelves are done (middle shelves are fixed, top and bottom shelves a...

Welcome to the wonderful world of LJ’s (Enjoy) Come on in, The water’s fine, fine, fine. Happy, that you have chosen to join the family.You can ask, show, teach, learn, and Share woodworking experiences.There’s something here for anyone that likes working with wood.Plus new friendsGod bless

Yep! Then a planer, and a band saw and a miter saw and a small drill press; in fact, I spent most of year one in the “tool acquisition” phase. One of the reasons I took up woodworking was to develop patience. I figured pacing myself in buying and learning about a specific tool while I studied up on things I wanted to build was the way to do that. Now, finally, I’m actually producing things in a reasonable timeframe with what appear to be pretty decent mid-level tools.

I told my wife that savings over buying rather than building my first really big project — a double Stickley bookcase with glass doors — would come close to paying for the table saw and planer. So far, that looks like it may indeed be the case. I hope to start it next month.